Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE)

PACE's primary sensor, Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), Engineering Test Unit (ETU) rolls into the TVAC chamber.
The OCI ETU rolls into the TVAC chamber. Lines are for electrical connections, temperature sensors, accelerometers, and liquid nitrogen, which is used for cooling down the radiators.

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is a NASA mission that will collect information on the processes behind carbon dioxide exchange in the ocean. By monitoring aerosols in the atmosphere along with plankton on the surface of the ocean, scientists can collect information about the health of the Earth. Data about the frequency harmful algae blooms is just one example of the information PACE can collect.

Engineers as Goddard Space Flight Center’s Engineering and Technology Directorate designed, built and tested the PACE spacecraft and Ocean Color instrument (OCI) and along with the scientists, managers and technicians are critical to ensuring the success of the mission. PACE is expected to launch in 2024.

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